Production of organic acids



Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PRODUCTION OF ORGANIC ACIDS No Drawing. Application April 5, 1929, Serial No. 352,901, and in Germany April 14, 1928 2 Claims.

The present invention relates to the production of pure fatty acids.

The fatty acids obtained by the oxidation of solid waxes, such as paraffin and like waxes, contain considerable quantities of dark colored compounds, such as hydroxycarboxylic acids, lactones and inner esters, and when employed in soap-making, or for other conversions, yield soaps and the like which are dark in color.

We have now found that the dark colored compounds can be eliminated from these oxidation products in a surprisingly simple manner and pale fatty acids obtained, by subjecting the crude products to a pressing treatment at a temperature below the melting point of the pure acids. Under this treatment the dark colored impurities become liquefied but not the fatty acids, so that the two components are separated. The pure fatty acids so obtained are pale in 20 color, have substantially higher melting points than the crude product, and furnish pale soaps. In the pressing process the application of a slightly elevated temperature is often of advantage.

The following example will further illustrate the nature of the invention, which however is not restricted thereto.

Example with an excess of a. saponifying agent and recovering the fatty acids from the resulting soaps, are cooled to 12 to 13 centigrade, packed into press cloths and subjected to a pressure of about 100 atmospheres in a hydraulic press. The liquid portion, about 450 parts, consists of a dark colored oil, whilst the solid portion, about 550 parts, consists "of hard, pale fatty acids, with a melting point from 45 to 48 centigrade which, when employed for soap-making, furnish a pale soap.

What we claim is:-

1. In the process of recovering pure saturated fatty acids from the crude acids obtained by hydrolysis of the soaps produced by saponification of the products resulting from the oxidation of paraffin Wax, the step which comprises subjecting said crude acid reaction portion to mechanical pressure at a temperature below the melting point of the saturated fatty acids contained therein.

2. In the process of recovering pure saturated fatty acids from the crude acids obtained by hydrolysis of the soaps produced by saponification of the products resulting from the oxidation of parafiin wax, the step which comprises subjecting said crude acid reaction portion to a pressure of about two atmospheres at a temperature of about 12-13 centigrade.

MARTIN LUTHER. HANS FRANZEN. 

